Iowa Local Food Day is Sept. 25

Iowa Local Food Day, the third Wednesday in September, was established in 2018 by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to celebrate Iowa-grown food and support schools, nutrition directors and farmers. The annual event brings together all sectors of Farm to School, unifying the state around the success of our farms, children, and schools.

“Iowa Local Food Day and National Farm to School Month help students and young learners make the connection between food and farming,” said Meg Collins, education consultant for the Iowa Department of Education. “It can spark discussion, curiosity and the exploration of nutrition, agriculture and other science fields as well.”

In addition to using local meals in the cafeteria, participating schools may plan farm visits, garden harvest activities and new food taste tests during their celebrations.

Also celebrating Iowa Local Food Day is Iowa State University Local Food Festival, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The ISU Local Food Festival is an annual celebration of local food and healthy living. This event centers around incorporating local foods into your daily meals, empowering healthy lifestyles, and sustainability-focused activities to engage students, faculty and staff to make connections with Ames and nearby communities. The festival features educational displays, and locally produced products for sale by local vendors and ISU clubs, and recipe samples using fresh-picked produce from the ISU Horticulture Research Station.

Join students, faculty, and staff for this free event, 9:30 am - 1:30 p.m. on ISU Central Campus.

In Cedar Falls, you can enjoy the free, family friendly Fall Food Fest. Celebrate Iowa Local Food Day by learning, tasting, and supporting local farmers, producers, and businesses at the Rooted Carrot Co-op Fall Food Fest on Wednesday, September 25th, 6:30-8 p.m. The Cedar Falls Community Center will host local growers and producers who will be offering samples, sharing expertise, and answering questions about their businesses. There will be activities for children, live music, food trucks, and door prizes!

Another Local Food resource is Healthy Harvest of North Iowa (HHNI), a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the local food system and connecting the community to those who grow food in North Central Iowa. HHNI offers a wealth of resources, including a local foods recipe database, comprehensive local food guides available in print and online, and a hub of producer resources. They organize workshops, field days, and various events to foster learning and engagement within the community.

Here in SE Iowa, the MIU Regenerative Organic Agriculture Program is hosting their Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, September 28, 3:30-10 p.m. at the MIU farm, 1917 Hwy 1, Fairfield.

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And lastly, there is an exciting new project aimed at keeping locally raised food local and encouraging economic and agricultural sustainability, the SE Iowa Regional Food Web. As part of this effort a team is studying the needs and opportunities in the region for planners to operate with the best information possible. You can help your community thrive by completing an anonymous, confidential 5 minute survey about the local food system. Consumers, producers, and market makers are invited to share their voices and contribute to creating a sustainable regional food web. The survey is available online at www.seiafoodweb.org/.Take it today!